Admirals Cruise Back to Scope on Four-Game Winning Streak

NORFOLK, VA – The Norfolk Admirals have cruised back into Scope riding a four-game winning streak and a 7-6-0-0 season record as they prepare for battle against the Binghamton Senators on Tuesday and Wednesday. Following that game, the team will not be at home until after Thanksgiving.

Norfolk will look to keep the streak alive against the Binghamton Senators with games on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both nights have special discounts available. Please see below for details. Following those games, the Admirals will hit the road for an eight-game road trip commencing Friday in Hershey and Saturday in Albany

EAST DIVISION STANDINGSAt 7-6-0-0 (14 points), the Admirals are tied for third place in the American Hockey League’s East Division. The East is led by the Hershey Bears (10-5-0-0, 20 pts) and Albany River Rats (7-6-0-1, 15 pts). Norfolk is tied with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (6-4-1-1, 14 pts). They are followed by the Adirondack Phantoms (6-5-1-0, 13 pts), Binghamton Senators (5-6-2-0, 12 pts) and Syracuse Crunch (4-6-2-1, 11 pts). Click here for the complete, up-to-the-minute AHL standings.

After beginning last week at 3-6-0-0 and in seventh place in the AHL’s East Division, the Admirals have vaulted into a third-place tie with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the division with a 7-6-0-0 record.

The Admirals have their first winning record since the end of the 2006-07 season.

The Admirals have allowed only 28 goals this season through 13 games (2.15 GAA). Last season through 13 games, Norfolk had allowed 52 goals (4.00 GAA).

Norfolk ranks sixth in team defense at 2.15 goals-against average. They have allowed the fewest shots in the league at an average of 25.62 shots per game.

The Admirals out-scored their opposition 14-4 on their four-game road trip.

On the trip, goalies Dustin Tokarski and Riku Helenius both went 2-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA. The duo combined for a .959 save percentage by stopping 94 of 98 shots.

Norfolk has killed 37 of the last 38 opponent power plays (97.4%). They were a perfect 15-15 on the road trip.

This was just the second time in 21 tries that the AHL Admirals had a perfect four-game road trip. The only prior time was from December 29, 2002 – January 3, 2003.

The Admirals won their fifth straight road contest for just the third time in the ten-plus season history of the Admirals in the AHL. The AHL Admirals franchise record road-winning streak is seven games during the 2002-03 season.

ADMIRALS PLAYER OF THE WEEKPaul Szczechura: 4GP, 3G, 2A, 5PTS Paul Szczechura paced Norfolk and was tied for second in the AHL last week with five points during the Admirals’ perfect four-game road trip. On Monday in Winnipeg, Szczechura tallied an empty-net goal to seal the Admirals’ 3-1 victory in the first ever meeting with the Manitoba Moose. The following night, Szczechura knotted the game at 1-1 as the Admirals came from behind to beat Manitoba 3-1 again. On Friday in Wilkes-Barre, Szczechura assisted on the game’s opening tally as the Admirals defeated the Penguins 2-1. Szczechura helped Norfolk complete the perfect four-game road trip on Saturday in Syracuse as he recorded the game’s opening goal and assisted on the eventual game-winning tally in a 6-1 win.

With 12 points (5G, 7A), Szczechura is tied for the team lead in points with Brandon Bochenski. The third-year pro is also tied with Mike Lundin for the team lead with seven assists. He ranks third in goals with five and his three power play points are tied for second place with Norfolk

MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONThe Admirals will celebrate the United States Marine Corps’ 234th birthday on Tuesday, with special ticket prices and pre-game ceremonies at their game against the Binghamton Senators at Scope. Active and retired members of the Marine Corps along with their dependents will be able to present their valid Marine Corps IDs at the Admirals’ Administrative Offices at Scope to purchase discounted tickets. Red Level Tickets (normally $14) will be available for just $10. These tickets may be purchased via phone at (757) 640-1212 prior to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Valid identification is required when picking up the tickets. The Admirals will hold special pre-game activities that night – including a Marine Corps National Anthem singer, Color Guard and a special guest performing the ceremonial puck drop.

FAMILY FUN PACKS RETURNLast week, the Admirals announced that Admirals Family Fun Packs will return for the 2009-10 season. Admirals Family Fun Packs include four Red Level tickets, four hot dogs, four popcorns and four sodas for only $48. That is a savings of $37! This great deal is available for all Tuesday and Wednesday night home games. Your first opportunities for these great deals are this Tuesday and Wednesday, November 10 and 11, against the Binghamton Senators. Admirals Family Fun Packs are available at the Scope Box Office, any Ticketmaster outlet, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com. For more details - including a complete list of Family Fun Pack Nights and links to complete a purchase - please click here or visit norfolkadmirals.com

STUDENT RUSH NIGHTS RETURN WITH NEW FEATURESLast week, the Admirals announced the return of a new and improved Student Rush Night ticket. This season, Student Rush Nights, brought to you by Pit Bull Energy Drink and Baxter’s Sports Lounge, will occur on all Tuesday and Wednesday night home games. All students have to do is show their valid, current student ID at the Scope Box Office after 2:00 p.m. on the day of the game and receive a White Level ticket for just $8 (normally $12). Plus, students will receive a buy one, get one free offer for the next Student Rush night. High School and College IDs are accepted. Your first opportunities for these great deals are this Tuesday and Wednesday, November 10 and 11, against the Binghamton Senators. This offer is not available anywhere other than the Scope Box Office.

Student Rush tickets will also get students $5.99 menu items at Baxter’s Sports Lounge before and after the game that day. Baxter’s Sports Lounge is located just behind Norfolk Scope at 500 Granby Street. Students of any age with Student Rush tickets will be permitted into Baxter’s prior to game time. After the game, only students over age 21 with Student Rush ticket stubs will be permitted unless a parent or guardian accompanies them.

TEN PACKSAdmirals Ten Packs offer a flexible and affordable way to watch Admirals hockey at Scope. Ten packs consist of ten undated ticket vouchers at $1 off the gate price. These vouchers may be redeemed at the Scope Box Office anytime for tickets to any 2009-10 Admirals regular season home game. Fans can use all ten vouchers at once, spread them out for a single ticket over ten different games, or anywhere in-between. Plus, there are no ticket fees and you save $10 over the life of the ten pack. For more details, call (757) 640-1212 or visit visit norfolkadmirals.com.

THIS WEEK ON THE ADMIRALS HOUR RADIO SHOWTune in to the Admirals Hour on Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN Radio 94.1-FM. Admirals Vice President Joe Gregory, Admirals Color Commentator Pat Shetler, Admirals founder and Hall of Fame member Blake Cullen and Admirals part-owner Dave Rosenfield will be in the studio hosting the show.

SCOUTING REPORTThe Admirals will see a lot of familiar faces as they square off against the Binghamton Senators on Tuesday and Wednesday. Former Admirals all-star Martin St. Pierre leads the B-Sens in points and assists while perennial scoring threat Denis Hamel has been complimented by Ottawa prospect RW Ryan Keller to help finish off the St. Pierre passes. Keller is a cousin of Admirals LW Justin Keller. Former Admirals netminder Mike Brodeur is the reigning Reebok/AHL Player of the week. He leads the Senators with four wins, a 2.56 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage. 2009-10 Norfolk defenseman Geoff Kinrade is among the Binghamton leaders in scoring among defensemen. The Senators are coming off a tough 1-0 loss to Hamilton last night and will not play before squaring off against Norfolk tomorrow.

The Admirals will kick off a season-long eight-game road trip on Friday at 7:00 p.m. by traveling to their closest opponent and perhaps biggest rival, the Hershey Bears. Hershey is six points ahead of the Admirals leading the East Division. Alexandre Giroux finds himself in the familiar spot of leading the Bears in points and goals while RW Andrew Gordon has built upon his opening night hat trick against the Admirals with a solid seven-goal, 18-point campaign thus far. Jason Bacashihua and Michal Neuvirth are a formidable goaltending duo with eight wins between them and a pair of sub-2.50 GAAs and save percentages over .910. The Bears, who topped Providence last night 5-1, are off until facing the Admirals on Friday.

Norfolk concludes the week with a 7:00 p.m. tilt in Albany against the second-place River Rats. Albany is led in all offensive categories by Jerome Samson. However, the River Rats are a balanced offense with five players having scored four or more goals this season. Goaltender Justin Peters has been solid with five wins, a 2.19 GAA and .925 save percentage. The River Rats defeated the Adirondack Phantoms last Saturday 3-1. They will visit Syracuse on Wednesday before hosting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday and the Admirals on Saturday.

TICKETSTo purchase tickets to any Admirals game, you may visit the Scope Box Office weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., visit any Ticketmaster outlet, call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or visit Ticketmaster online at ticketmaster.com. Don’t miss a minute of the action by purchasing your 2009-10 season tickets today. Stop by the Admirals’ Administrative Offices at Scope, call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or visit norfolkadmirals.com anytime!

ON THE RADIO/INTERNETAll eighty regular season games will air live on STAR 1310-AM and will stream online free of charge at star1310.com. AHL Live will carry online video of every Admirals game on a pay-per-view or season pass basis. Fans can log in to watch or get more information about AHL Live’s online video features at ahllive.com.